O’Dwyer’s Laois bombshell

THE GAA’s hottest managerial signature was up for grabs last night, as legendary coach Mick O’Dwyer prepared to walk away from Laois.

GAA chiefs in the county were defiantly insisting the man who guided Laois to their first Leinster title last year since 1946, would remain in the job he took only two years ago.

But his fellow selector, Declan O'Loughlin, a close associate of O'Dwyer's, admitted last night the Kerry maestro was on his way out of Laois.

"He told us on Sunday he was pulling out. He told us before that there had been approaches from other places for him, but I wouldn't have dwelt on that," said O'Loughlin.

"I know Micko better than anybody but I haven't been able to reach him today (Monday). Something must have happened in the last 24 hours to change his mind.

"We'll be very distressed if he goes. We thought we had learned from the defeats of this year and we had been looking forward to next season, planning ahead for the Laois team."

O'Dwyer even brought in the Curragh's John Doran as physical trainer to the county team for 2005. Doran had filled the same post under O'Dwyer with Kildare for four seasons.

"We're very worried about the whole situation," said O'Loughlin. "The players are very disturbed by the reports that we're hearing.

"They don't know where they lie because of the rumours flying around that Micko is gone."

Speculation persists the 67-year-old is keen to face the ultimate challenge before he winds down his inter-county managerial career re-awaken the GAA's sleeping giant, Dublin. Less believable is the speculation that he could be tempted to revive the fortunes of Carlow next season.

Bookmakers have slashed the odds on O'Dwyer to be the next Dublin boss from 6/1 to 5/6 favourite, following a flurry of bets yesterday.

Dublin chairman John Bailey last week dismissed speculation linking the Waterville man with the vacant football manager's position despite strong evidence that the Dubs were bidding to lure him from their Leinster rivals.

"This is rubbish, just like the rumour about Páidí Ó Sé a few weeks ago and John O'Mahony before that," Bailey said. However, reliable sources say the Dublin Board have made approaches to O'Dwyer to ascertain his interest in the post. The initial contact came at a time when O'Dwyer was peeved with the Laois County Board for ratifying and announcing a new two-year term without contacting him.

O'Dwyer clearly felt the announcement over his head gave him very little room for manoeuvre with the players, as he prepared for a new training regime for next season.

However the final straw has been the lukewarm response from the players as O'Dwyer laid down plans for the 2005 season.

Only 19 players attended a players' meeting, and there a similarly disappointing turnout when a second players' meeting was convened on Saturday.

O'Loughlin defended the absence of the missing players last night, saying "the players are being used as an excuse. A good few Portlaoise lads are still in the Leinster club championship and weren't there. Others like Tom McDonald and Donal Miller were on holidays.

"Fergal Byron was at a conference in Galway and a good few of the minor boys felt they would concentrate on the U21 next year, which is all fair enough. If Micko goes the players will be extremely distressed. They are very fond of him. We all are."

Last night in Portlaoise, the County Board vainly passed a vote of confidence in the Kerry maestro. Football board chairman Joe Dwyer attended and insisted: "The last time I spoke with Mick O'Dwyer was at 3.30pm on Sunday. He said he would see me at training on Tuesday night."

Joe Dwyer told the meeting he understood Dublin "were after" Mick O'Dwyer, but he did not elaborate on the story.

Another close associate of Micko's said: "We're stunned by what happened. Micko has been poached by another county, basically. If he has, it's a first that I know of in the GAA."

O'Dwyer was unavailable for comment.